Lifting sling guide for elongated articles



June 1948- T. s. DE CUIR LIFTING SIJING GUIDE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES 2 ShetsSheet 1 Filed July 17, 1945 'ATTORN June 15, 1948.

T. spa CUlR LIFTING SLING GUIDE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES 7 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17,, 1945 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented June 15, 1948 LIFTING SLING GUIDE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Talford S. De Cuir, Whiting, Ind., assignor to The Lummus Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware- Application July 17, 1945, Serial No.605,560

This invention relates to the art of lifting and erecting large objects and equipment and, in particular, to the provision of new and improved lifting lug constructions for such objects and equipment which adapt them for convenient lifting, tipping, manipulation, transportation and erection by conventional cranes, derricks and the like.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide new and improved lifting lug constructions which, though strong and positive in operation, are of such cheap and simple construction as to be readily formed or fabricated, and attached during fabrication, directly to the equipment or objects to be provided therewith; which may remain a permanent part of the object or equipment; or which may be readily and conveniently removed from the aforesaid object or equipment after erection thereof, if desired.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such lifting lug constructions which are fixed to the aforesaid objects or equipment and which cooperate with loops or bights of the lifting line or cable to form a slip-proof sling providing the ultimate positive control of the object -or equipment during the lifting or erecting operation,and obviating the necessity for complicated and expensive, less positive and less slip-proof equipment such as articulated slings or other complicated appliances attached to or associated with the lifting cables and heretofore necessary for achievement of any reasonable degree of control.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved method of preparing large equipment and objects for handling by a conventional crane or derrick.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear from the following description taken with the drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

1 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, illustrating an early position assumed by a tower equipped with lifting lugs, according to this invention, in a lifting and positioning operation;

Fig. 2 is a view similar tofig. 1 of a subsequent position assumed during such an operation; a r

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a third position, subsequent to the position of Fig. 2, assumed in the aforesaid operation;

Fig. 4 is asimilar view .of a fourth position assumed during that operation;

I Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive,

5 Claims. (Cl. 294-74)- 2 but showing the position assumed by the .parts immediately prior to release of tension on the lifting line, cable, or sling, whereby the tower of Figs. 1 to 5 is set or positioned upon a predetermined base or foundation;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the tower of Figs. 1 to 5, showing a preferred manner of rigging a sling for cooperation with the lifting lugs of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, in elevation, of one of the lifting lugs shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 7; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Broadly speaking, the lifting lugs of this invention may be considered as ears or projections especially provided on large or cumbersome articles or equipment such as the illustrated tower, in pairs, for cooperation'with slings comprising one or more bights' in, or associated with, the lifting line of a derrick, crane or the like. The location of the lug is determined by the height of the vessel, the distance of the lifting derrick, or the like, from the foundation on which the vessel is to be set, and the clearance height of the derrick boom above that foundation, with due respect to the center of mass or center of gravity of the equipment, article, or tower, to be equipped with the aforesaid lugs and lifted thereby. Since the lugs are of cheap construction, readily attachable permanently to the tower, they may be left in place after the lifting operation, or, if desired, they may be cut off the tower or equipment to which they are welded when attached.

These lugs are not to be confused with equipment separate from such a tower or the like, which equipment is intended to be.used and re-used, over and over again.

As shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9, the lifting lugs generally designated l0, which are similar and obverse, each comprise a pair of substantially parallel channel members l2 connected by a strap or bar I4 adjacent their intermediate portion and having their lower ends joined by a rocker member IS with the central portion 16 thereof substantially straight or planar and with arcuate end portions I1 and I8 extending outwardly and upwardly of the intermediate portion l6- One arcuateend portion I1 is preferably of relatively smaller radius than the other arcuate end portion l8, whereby the rocker member IS, in elevation, appears somewhat similar to the runner of a sleigh or skate turned up at both ends. For the sake of convenience, the parts are described in their final position, when the tower l l is set in its final position wherein it is upright as are the members l2, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

As willbe understood, the members l2; l4 and I5 are welded inplace, to one another; and to one side or sidewall of a piece of equipment such as the tower II, which is desired to be lifted or placed in suitable position as, for instance, on a base or foundation Ha. (Fig. 5). j

Suitable angles or braces l9 and 2i! may be welded to the aforesaid tower 'wall'and'to suit able parts of the lug ID for tli'-"sakeof rigidity."

At its outer edge, each rocker member I5 is provided with a downwardly projecting retainer or flange 2| which preferably extends from end to end thereof, and which cooperates Withan'angularly disposed thrust plate 22 (Figs. 8 and 9) t'dguidthe loops or :bight's 24 of the-=line -23 forming"the' 'slingportion or sling.

' While the sling is' sho'wn in Figsfil to 5 inits simplest formand' as comprising asingl'e loop or bight 26 provided with loops at itsoppositeends through whichthe 'ey' 2 5 passes in conventional inner, the preferred'form' of sling is shown in Figs. 6 and '7." 'As-"shown'inFigsfifi"and '7; the eye passes through the end loops of a cable enerally designated 23. The eye' 25 is, of course, provided with the conventional lifting bolt/26. Suspended irom"the mid portion ofthe eye 25 is a; sheave 2'! over whicli'themfd-portion of the cable 23 extends, as'sliown in -Fig. 6, whereby the cable 23 is'divided'into'two loops or-"big'htsy 'The inner bight 24 passes over thesheave 21 and around the tower Hjone 'leg of this'bight being 'disposed'above'the cable portion; forming the" adjacent leg ofthe outer bight-and the other leg portion of the i'nnr bightpassing beneath the adjacent leg or'leg portion oftheouter bight, as therein shown. By this" arrangement, the tension equalized in the cable 23 throughout thesling and the 'respectivebights 24 ofthe sling cooperate tdexer't awe'dging efiect," in cooperation with -the-thru'st p1ate 22", asshown in Fig.9, whereby the upper'loop or'bight ofthe sling is wedged in the crotch formed in-the-retainer or flange 2 l, the adjacent lower surface of" the rocker member'lfi and the thrust plate- 22, as shown inFig. 9.

In a' 'lifting' and positioning 1 operation; the lower end of the object -(as,"forinstancegthe tower H)' is'raised andplaced upon a conventional dolly or" platform'"3llsupported' on conventional rollers 3I.""Thi's *doll y "suppo'rtsthe lower end of the tower and makes it possible" to pass thecable' 23 of thesling ab'out 'thetower l 8 adjacent and 'beneaththe 'rock-er' 'member l5 of the lug H3.- After this is" done, the eye 25 is passed through the end loops ofthe-slingformed bythecable' 23 and the lifting bolt 2 6 is inserted througli'th'e apertures in the-"eye '25 and also a icon; eye; or other means (noteshOWn) at" the lower end of the liftingli'ne or cable which 'isattached tothe lifting apparatus comprising a derrick, crand'orthe like/It is to 'be noted thatan area betwee'n'the lugs Wand disposed in' the direction toward theeye"25'is providedwith lubrication- 32" to'preVent abrasiQn oi -the tower surface by the converging legs of'the 'sling bight or bi'ghtsL Iiifti'ng'forc'e is then'applied through the'liftingbolt 2'." to place' the "parts irr'the posinon-shown iii-Fig. 1.

Fronr the position of Fig; 1, further applica 4 tion of lifting force to the lifting bolt 25 causes the parts to move to the position shown in Fig, 2 which is accompanied by movement of the dolly (guiding and partly supporting the lower end 5 of the tower l I and preventing it from dragging upon the earth) toward the right. As thelift- 'ing 'progressesgthe partsimbve 'further to the position shown in FigI-3'and thence to the position in Fig. 4, whereupon the tower II is sup- '10'-ported completely by the lifting line or cable of the derrick or other lifting device, which applies lifting force to the tower ll through the lifting bolt 26 of the eye 25. The tower is then free of t'e'rrestial support, except through the derrick or 5* crandanditisswung freely through the air to final po'sition' as,-for instance, directly over the supporter foundation Ha, whereupon it is released and allowed to move downwardly upon the'desired support.

Since the lugs It, as described above, comprise a plurality ofcheap' and simple metal shapes which maybe economically" welded'tog'ether and directly to the wall of thew-equipment; for "instance; the tower desired to be lifted in position,

5 'thecost of these lugs is'amortiZed many-times stance-an oxyacetylene torch. i By the use of such lugs,.-equipment-- =-(-sucl r as the illustrated tower) or great size and weight may be conveniently and safelyhandled without damage; since they are always under complete 40 control during the lifting-and positioningioperetion, and since the occurrence of abrasion= by the cable 23-f0rm-ingthe-s1lng is -totally obviated by theuse of the lubrica'tion .32. g

It will thus beseen -that'l have provided "a new and improved method of --halndlingsuch cumbersome,- large; and T heavy: equipment; as above "described with complete F-safety, security, and "control; throughoutthe lifting and positioning operation, by means of my-new-and improved lugs which are of I such"= oheaip construction that they may beleft place after-the lifting operation without reuseuntil'; perhaps-when it is desired to remove the equipment, or tower, at' 'some laterdate.

1 It is,- ofcourse, to be'understoodrthat'the'above description is merely illustrativeand in nowise limiting, and that I--desire to comprehend "within my invention-such modifications as are, included within the scope of the appended claims. Having thus fully described myinventic inwhat I claim as new, and desireto-secure byLetters Patent is: Y l 12 I In combinationwith cumbersome object to belifted'and erectedi'by-a 'derrick or thelike object at opposite sides said lugs beingesecured rigidly tosaid objectssaid-Jugs each including from oppdsite-nds'of said substantially fiat-.por-

tion and integral therewith; and aretainirig flange depending froni thelower surface or; said member readily cut oiff-by any suitable means aspfor-im' with a, lifting-sling, sling guiding means comprisingga-pair of-lug-s projecting outwardly fromsaid adjacent the outer edge thereof, said retaining flanges being adapted to engage a portion of a sling passing around said object below said lugs to retain said sling in position during erection of said object.

2. In combination with a cumbersome object to be lifted and positioned by a derrick or the like with a lifting sling, sling guiding means comprising a pair of obverse aligned lugs projecting outwardly from said object at opposite sides, said lugs being permanently secured rigidly to said object, said lugs each including a rocker member comprising a substantially flat portion adapted to be disposed substantially horizontal in the final position of said object and upwardly directed arcuate portions extending from opposite ends of said substantially fiat portion, a retaining flange depending from the lower surface of said rocker member adjacent the outer edge thereof, and an inclined thrust plate secured to said rocker member and said object and extending over the line of attachment therebetween, said thrust plate and said retaining flange cooperating with the lower surface of said rocker member to form a wedging channel receiving and retaining a portion of said lifting sling in fixed position with respect to said object when lifting force is applied thereto through said sling.

3. In sling guiding means for use in erecting a cumbersome object with a derrick or the like having a lifting sling including at least one cable bight, a pair of lugs rigidly secured to opposite sides of said object in substantial alignment, said lugs having means engageable with spaced portions of a sling extending at least partially around said object below said lugs to prevent passage of said sling past said lugs and comprising a member having an arcuate sling engaging surface substantially perpendicular to said object, a retaining flange adjacent the outer edge of said arcuate sling engaging surface, and a thrust plate spaced inwardly of said retaining flange and cooperating therewith wedgingly to engage a sling portion. l j

4. In combination with a cumbersome object to be lifted and erected by a derrick or the like with a lifting sling, sling-guiding means comprising a pair of spaced lugs projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said object, each of said lugs including a shelf-like portion welded to said object and forming a downwardly facing abutment for an underlying sling extending around the object, to prevent upward slippage of the sling, said portion of each lug having an upturned end for training a suspension reach of the sling, and a bracing structure for said portion of the lug at the upper side thereof and welded to said lug portion and to said object.

5. In combination with a cumbersome object to be lifted and erected by a derrick or the like with a lifting sling, sling-guiding means comprising a pair of lugs projecting outwardly from said object at opposite sides and rigidly secured to said object, each of said lugs including a member with a substantially flat central portion adapted to be disposed substantially horizontal in the final position of said object and an upwardly directed arcuate portion extending from one end of said substantially fiat portion and integral therewith, and a retaining flange depending from the lower surface of said member adjacent the outer edge thereof, said retaining flanges being adapted to engage a portion of a sling passing around said object below said lugs to retain said sling in position during erection of said object.

TALFO RD S. DE CUIR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,501,888 Meriwether July 15, 1924 1,527,931 Smith Feb. 24, 1925 1,952,217 Patton Mar. 27, 1934 2,142,416 Russell Jan. 3, 1939 2,188,445 SaXe I- Jan. 30, 1944 

